Combined press and filter device



April 16, 1935. R M THOMPSON 1,997,611

COMBINED PRESS AND FILTER DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1931 I [lj3` /34 7 Sheets-Sheet l www Aprill 16, 1935- R. M. THoMPsoN 1,997,611

COMBINED PRESS AND FILTER DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 42 /sz a @43 sa 42 z lao ,3, 0 O O s 59 o J 5 o 56 56 0 o 89909/ O O O o o 47 e? o o; i?? @7 o o .90 o 40 L I o 5l 0 o o o 4a 47 97m o 35 9o O O Dfi, L QLX o O e7a; 5a o O 89 as 9/ o asf /M/wof? [06 #daily/www12 April 16, 1935.

R, M. THOMPSON COMBINED PRESS AND FILTER DEVICE Filed- Jan. 19, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 16, 1935.

R. M. THOMPSON COMBINED PRESS AN FILTER DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 I i N l 67 87 55 o 5.559 al 59 l' /70' 35 5a 6e 57 I `el 1 1" //6 60 l 64 4a I 49 I a l az l l l l l z 4f az f I a I l- 48 i i l 49 Il 50 I| 49 l l l Ej. 7 noanaz Mez/M in/224mm' @hinweg Apnl 16, 1935. R. M. THOMPSON COMBINED PRESS AND FILTER DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, l1931 7 sheets-sheet 5 April 16, 1935. R. M. THoMPsoN COMBINED PRESS AND FILTER DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Wk /M @Z4 fg?. a

April 16, 1935. R M THOMPSON 1,997,611

COMBINED PRESS AND FILTER DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1931 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I y 1,/ v L @www .patented Apr. 16, 193s 1,997,611

UNITED STATES. PATENT'ol-FICE COMBINED PRESS AND FILTER; DEVICE Robert M. Thompson, Seattle, Wash., assig'nor to J Thompson Continuously Operating Filter Press Company, a corporation of Washington Application January 19, 1931, SerialNo. 509,59-- 21 Claims. (Cl. 210-197) My invention relates to the art of devices demanufacturing process' it is frequently desirable signed to separate-liquids from liquids-of greater to have adevice-which may be employed both flowability, and liquids from solids'. as a press and as a filter press. 'I'he filter de More particularly, my invention relates to 'a Avices as heretofore designed are not capable of 5 combined press and iilter device designed for this dual use. This involves the installation of 5 continuous operation. My present invention is both devices which involves great expense as well in the nature of an improvement on the lter as the loss of important oor space. .device disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,778,342, The objects of my invention, in general, are vissued October 14, 1930. to overcome the objections to the devicesV as l0 It is common practice in the art of filtration heretofore constructed. A. primary object of my 10 to refer to devices designed ior the separation invention is to provide a combined press and of materials by the vapplication of force or pres? filter press; another primary object of my insure to the materials from without, as presses; vention is to provide such a device for continuwhile devices designed for the separation of maous operationwhich will have a filter chamber terials by having the force 'or pressure transbounded by one or more filter belts supported 15 mitted through the materials themselves as lin part .or in whole by a movable frame, the ter presses. Filter presses are usually used pressure upon the materials retained 0n the lwhere the amount of solids to be separated out tering medium atthe discharge end of said chamis but a small proportion of the total mobile ber being automatically controlled and adjustmass composed of said solids and liquids in which able. A further primary object of my invention 20 said solids are disposed and hence the said mais to provide means for drawing oi the expressed terials are pumped into the filter press. Presses liquids at the different stages of the ltration on the other hand, are used where the proporprocess whereby' the `clear liquids may be kept tion of solid matter is much greater in relation Separate from the leSS Clear. Another primary 3 to that' of the liquid composing said materials Object iS to provide, in combination with such 25 to be filtered. The distinction between the two continuous operating filter device, an-improved devices will develop clearly in the following para- Slat belt to Support the ltel belt and to Prographs, vide means for maintaining said filter belt and In the industrial arts ltration is very often a Slat'belt. under the desired tension, to facilitate costly item in the manufacturing process. This the .expressing DrOceSS- Still another primary 30 is due in part to the intermittent character of object of my invention iS to Provide one ltel the Operation of the rmiger devices and to the 4belt to move faster than the other lter belt large amount of manual attentionwhich is inin Order that a Slip may be provided fol` hancdent thereto. Moreover, in theltering proctiling impervious materials. Wheleby the liquidS 5 ess there are points at which the expressed liqmay loe Worked mechal'lieally tothe Outside of 35 uids are more clear than at other points.' This the lnaSS to eXDoSe Said liquids to the filter walls.

is particularly true during the early stages of Another 0hJ`ect, of 'nly invention iS to Provide a the separating process due to the liquids passing pressure chamber Without Side Packing StripS- through the filtering medium before a deposit` of Another object 0f my invention iS to Provide the retained solids on the filtering mediumhas a diSehal'ge, the Opening of Which is not xed 40 accumulated, which retained solids usually, form but iS automatically adjuSted by the pressure the real filtering medium, such early liquids usudeveloped inthe discharging materials. Another ally being termed cloudy nitrate. By separate- Object iS to provide a filtering tight Pressure 1y drawing 0g the cloudy portion of lthe expressed chamber using moving belt walls. Another obliquid during the early stages of the filtration leef? iS t0 DTOVde-a'gaiust the mingling 0f Cloudy 45 process, a minimum quantity of the clgudy g1- and clearltrate. Another object is toprovide trate is retained with the clear ltrate. l a belt :Combining both the reinforcing belt and Objection obtains to the devices as heretofore the ltering belt, doing away With one belt. `A designed in the leakage that takesplace by the Afurther object ofmy invention istoprovide means 'l joints formed between the stationary parts and for veryv eiciently removing by replacement all 50 moving parts of the device. Furthermore, seliquids from the solid portion of the-materials nous objection obtainsin thatthe great pressures to be separated. Finally, a primary object of my developed are difficult of control and result in invention is to provide such a. filter device that breaking of the machine. the separation vprocessr may be facilitated not In connection with the filtration part of the only by providing a vacuum and by imparting a.

movement to the materials to be filtered, but also by providing for the action of electricity to facilitate said separating process. A still further object of my invention is to provide a filter press having a continually changing filtering medium.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the following drawings, the same being prefen'ed exemplary forms 'of embodiment of my` invention, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a device embodying `my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical cross section of same;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic drawing illustrating certain driving mechanism for the same;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation showing one side of the device embodying my invention;

Fig. 5 is a view looking down on top of the same;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view substantially on broken line 8, 6 of Fig. 1 with certain filter belt and slats removed; f

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary Asectional View on a larger scale showing one of the movably mounted jaw members together with the filter belt and the slat belt and parts of the side plates;

Fig. 8 is a detached view in side elevation of one of the movably mounted jaw members;

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation showing the back side of said jaw member;

Fig. 10 is a plan View of two of the slats from which a slat belt is constructed;

Fig. l1 is a view in elevation showing the edge of one of such slats;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary view in elevation on a larger scale showing theiends of several of said slats and the manner of uniting the same to form a slat belt;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional detail showing parts of the swinging frame member;

Fig. 14 is a somewhat diagrammatic fragmentary sectional view showing antifriction packing means inthe form of two rubber rollers which may be interposed adjustably between the two filter belts;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view substantially on a brokenline I5, I5 of Fig. 14;

Figs. 16 and 17 are 'fragmentary sectional views illustrating two different ways of constructing packing strips for the edges of the filter belt;

Fig. 18 illustrates a modified -form of the 'invention in which a single belt extends entirely around the interior of a closed -filter chamber which is formed of moving slats;

Fig. 19 shows a combined pneumatic and hydraulic means for supporting the movable jaw member in such a manner that it will yield if subjected to excessive pressure;

the

Fig. 20 is a view in vertical section of a filter 1 device embodying my invention in which the slat belt is dispensed with, and the filter belts are supported by, endless belts of wire mesh;

Fig. 21 is a plan view showing perforated slats arranged to form a slat belt and having overlapping pieces of filter belt material secured thereon;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view of the combined slat and filter belt as it appears when passing around a sprocket pulley, a roller being shown for the purpose of bending the overlapping ends an edges of the filter cloth down:

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a perforated packing strip for the edge of the filter belt and showing the filter belt carried on a. belt of metal strips or mesh that is supported ing therethrough by which material may be forcibly introduced into the filter chamber;

Fig. 25 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the use of a tamping bar for facilitating the feeding of material between two filter belts;

Fig. 26 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an arcuate packing member of flexible metal interposed between the two filter belts;

Fig. 27 is a view in cross section of a packing block which may be used between the two filter belts;

Fig. 28 is a diagrammatic view showing both adjustable non-yielding mechanical devices and adjustable yielding hydraulic and pneumatic devices for supporting the ends of the jaw members;

Fig. 29 is a sectional view substantially on a broken line 32, 32 of Fig. 3l;\and

Fig. is a sectional detail View showing one manner of adjustably connecting the two oppositely arranged swinging frame or jaw members with each other in such a manner as to balance pressures and relieve the side plates of strain.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive, I have shown a filter device comprising two relatively fixed upright parallel side plates 35 that are supported in spaced-apart relation and one of which is preferably provided with sight openings 36 and has a glass plate 31 inserted in the interior wall thereof.

Operatively disposed between the side plates or end walls 35, and movable on suitable pulleys or rollers 38,A are two endless filter belts 39 whose opposing inner portions are preferably inclined withA respect to each other to form a wedge shaped or convergent filter pressure chamber 48. The wedge form of the chamber functions to facilitate the application of pressure to that portion of the material from which part of the liquids have been expressed.

The lower rollers 38 are mounted on transverse l shafts 4| that are supported in the side plates 35 andthe upper rollers 38 are mounted on transverse shafts 42 which have eccentric bearing studs 43 on the ends thereof, which are journaled in the side plates 35 and have lever arms 44 secured thereto at one end of each shaft so that the shafts 42 may be turned on the eccentric bearing studs 43 to raise and lower the rollers 38 and tighten or loosen the belt-s 39. The lever arms 44 are provided at one end with spring' pressed plungers 45 which are arranged to enter perforations 46 in the side plates to hold the lever arms in adjusted positions.

The filter belts are arranged to be supported on endless slat belts formed of slats 4l, each of which are provided with spaced apart lugs 48 that form links which interfit the links on the adjacent slats and are pivotally secured thereto by pins 49. Rollers 50 are provided on the pins 49 between the links 48 to roll on trackwayshereinafter explained.

The slats 41 are preferably rabbeted on the edges as at 5I so that they will overlap each other in ship lap fashion and the outer surfaces of such slats may be provided with longitudinal and transverse grooves 52 that are tapped by perforations 53 which extend/ through the slats sothat liquid may liow along the grooves lengthwise of the slats and bedischarged through the perforations. The ends of the slats are provided with raised portions or ledges 54 to prevent liquid from owing outwardly over such ends and to prevent cloudy liquor from the edges from flowing inwardly toward the center, the ledges 54 being used in addition to the transverse grooves 52 shown in Figs. 10, 11,`and 12 to raise the edges of the filter belt in the manner shown in Fig. 7.

The slats 41 with their connections form endless slat belts 'that are carried on sprocket wheels 55 which are mounted on shafts 56 and 51 at the upper and lower` ends respectively of swinging frame member 58, bushings 59 preferably being provided within the frame members 58'fo'r the shafts 56 and 51 to rotate in.

The swinging frame members 58 are provided at their top and bottom ends with outwardly directed bosses 60 that project through slots 6| in the side plates 35 and one of the swinging frame members is connected at the lower end and on both sides with links 62, the outer ends of 4which are secured by pivots 63 to the ends of levers 64 that are pivoted on eccentric pins or studs 65 on the ends of a shaft 66. The levers 64 have outwardly projecting separable armsl 61 on which a weight 68 is' adjustably secured and such leversv are adjustably supported by set screws 69 so that the centers of. the pivots -63 are a short distance below the line that passes through the centers of the shaft 51 and eccentric studs 65, thereby forming a toggle by which the bottom end of the swinging frame is held in axed position under ordinary pressure but will yield or move outwardly if the pressure becomes great enough to lift the weights 68.

By adjustment of the set screws 69 the pivots 63 may be moved toward the line joining the centers cf the eccentric studs and shafts 51 so that a greater pressure will be required to fit the. weights 68 or may be moved awayfrom such center line so that the weights will be lifted by less'pressure.

Further adjustments relative to pressure may be made by moving the weights 68 on the arms 61.

The distance between the bottom ends of the two swinging frame members as well as the angle of the toggle may be adjusted by turning the shaft 66 within a fixed tube 19 through which it extends, the shaft 66 being secured in adjusted positions within the tube 19 by a pin 1| that projects through perforations 12 in the tube-and other perforations13 in the shaft, the perforations 12 preferably being in alignment lengthwise of the tube while the perforations 13 are arranged in successively oiiset relation or spiral fashion around the shaft.

If the adjustment of the pivots 63 relative to -the center of the shaft 51 and the eccentric studs 65 is disturbed by Iturning the shaft 66 it may be corrected bytheadjusting screws 69.

The lower end of 'one only of the swinging frame members is herein shownl as adjustably mounted and arranged to be moved by excess pressure while the lower end of the other swinging frame member is fixed relative to the side plates, but, it will be understood that the lower ends of both of such swinging frame members may be adjustably and yieldingly supported if desired. t

The shafts 56 at the upper ends of the swing ing frame members 58.are provided with eccentric en d studs14 that are. adjustably .secured by set screws 15 to the hubs 16 of adjusting plates 11. The ends' of the plates 11 are provided with enter perforations 19 in the side plates 35 to secure the Lipper ends of the swinging frame members in adjusted position.

When the set screws 15 are unscrewed and the shafts 56 turned with respect` to the hubs 16, the upper sprocket wheels will'be raised and lowered and the slat belts tightened or loosened by reason of the relative eccentricity of the shafts 56 and the studs 14. 5 e

The swinging framlmembers 58 are each provided on the front side with two longitudinal grooves or track channels vnear the edges thereof in which the links 48 of the slat belts may run and are further provided between the track channels 8 with another channel 8| for the -reception of the filtrate that passes through 'the filter belts, the filtrate channel 8| being separated from the track channels8|l by walls 82 that are preferably recessed for the reception of strips of packing 83 which make contact with the slat belts and prevent the passage of filtered liquor between the chambers 8| and 80.

At the outersides of thevtrack channels 80 are walls 84 which have longitudinally extending metallic v packing strips 85 removably secured thereto and adapted to receive-the edges of the filter belt which overlap the ends of the slats 41, the walls 84 having passageways 86 (see Fig. 13)

formed therein to permit filtrate that seeps, through and around the edges of the filter beltto enter the track channels 8|).

Strips 81 of packing material are provided in -the sides of the swinging frame members and such swinging frame members are secured to the side plates 35 at frequent intervals by screws 88 that project through suitable slots in the side (see Fig. 2) whoseinner ends project into the l' channels 8| andbear lightly against slats 41, the

catch troughs being slidably disposed. within tubular passageways 99 in the swinging frame members 58. The in ner ends of the catchl troughs 89 are cut away as shown to leave a relatively sharpupper edge adjacent the slat belts and bowl effect through which the filtrate liquor may enter the outlet passage.

The catch troughs. 89 are tapped with outlet or drain pipes 9| that extend outwardly through slots 92k and 93 in the swinging frame members 58 and side plates 35 respectively and such catch troughs'are yieldingly held in contact withl the slats 41 by tension springs 94 that are connected with lever arms 95 on shafts 95 having pinions91 that mesh with gear racks 98 on the bottoms of the catch troughs 89, slots 99 being provided in -the side plates 35 and cylindrical recesses |09 being provided in the swinging frame member 58 toraccommodate the shafts 96 and the pinions 91. 4

The catch troughs 89 may be made from .cylindrical pieces of metal drilled throughout the greater portion of their length, plugged at the outer end, notched on the top side near the inner The objectof this' vspring pressed plungers 12B-,that are arranged to end as shown and having the gear racks 98 cut on the bottom side thereof.

On the two lowermost oppositely disposed catch troughs 89, the outlet pipes 9| are connected with each other by a tension spring |0| which holds such catch troughs in contact with the slats 41 and eliminates the rack and pinion mechanism'with which the other catch troughs are provided.

The bottom filtrate* catch troughs 89 will almost always be in use but in many classes of work it may be of advantage to disconnect the springs from some or all of the upper catch troughs so that the inner ends of such troughs will be withdrawn from the filtrate channel 8|, the filtrate catch troughs 89 constituting means for keeping the filtrate from different stages of `the filtration process separate. It will be understood that the liquors filtering through the filter fabric before a deposit of sediment has accumulated, may be cloudy, also different liquids may have a different degree of fiowability as in the case of separating oil and glue stock from cooked and partially evaporated fish pulp. The oil filters out first and the glue stock later. In such case the oil will deliver from the upper catch troughs and the glue stock-from the lower catch troughs, with the intermediate catch troughs delivering a mixture of the two liquids.

Disposed below the slat belts are catch pans |02 having outlets |03 and having relatively thin edges |04 which engage with the external surfaces or back side of the filter belts 39 to remove any liquor which may adhere thereto or run down the belts.

The solid matter that does not pass through the filter belts may discharge into a, trough |05 which extends crosswise of the bottom of the frame and which has a conveyor screw |08 operatively disposed therein. Scrapers |01 may project upwardly from the trough and engage with the filter belts 39 to scrape material off of such belts and cause it to drop in the trough |05.

Power from any suitable source may be transmitted by sprocket wheel |08. to shaft |09, (see Fig. 3), which has worm ||0 which meshes with ,worm wheel I and drives shaft |'|2 and gearwheel ||3, which meshes with gearwheel ||4 and thereby drives the shaft 51 and sprocket wheels 55 at the lower end of Aone of the swinging frame members 58. -The shaft 51 at the bottom end of the other swinging frame member 58 has a gearvwheel ||5 which is driven from a corresponding gearwheel IIS on the opposite shaft 51 through two 4intermediate gearwheel's ||1 and ||8.

The gearwheel ||8 is mounted on a bearing ||9 which also serves as a pivot for a swinging plate |20 which carriesv a bearing stud |2| on which the gearwheel ||1 is mounted, the bearing stud |2| being adjustable lengthwise of the plate |20 as by means of a slot |22 and the outer end of the plate being adjustably held by bolt |23 that projects through curved slot |24 in the plate so that the gearwheel I1 may be replaced by a gearwheel of either larger or smaller size which makes it possible to drive the two filter belts at different rates of speed.

The conveyor'screw |06 is mounted on a shaft |25 which is connected by spiral gears |26 with vertical shaft |21 which is in turn connected by other spiral gears |28 with the driven shaft |09 so that the conveyor screw is driven from the shaft |09.

Material to be filtered may be introduced into the filter pressure chamber 40 through a pipe |29 which may be connected with a pump, not shown, or with any other device for introducing the same under pressure. The upper side of the pipe |29 is preferably perforated so that when liquid material is being introduced such material will be directed upwardly in the form of jets as shown in Figs. l and 2, to agitate the mass and so provide a more uniform filtration. Also air may be pumped in with the liquids to act as air agitation means, escaping through the filter belt.

The upper end of the filter pressure chamber 40 is closed by a packing member comprising one or more rectangularly shaped blocks or plugs |30 which are tapered to fit between the filter belts 39 and which are provided on the inclined sides and in contact with the filter belts and the side walls with friction plates |3| preferably of flexible material as leather which project below the edges of thel blocks |30 as shown so that pressure from within the chamber 40 will tend to press them outwardly against the belts 39 and the side walls 35. I

In the drawings I have shown two of the packing blocks |30 adjustably mounted on supporting rods |32 which are secured to a cross bar |33 on the top of the filter press frame, the blocks |30 being arranged to be raised or lowered independently of each other by the manipulation of nuts |34 to compensate for wear and for movement toward or away from each other of the swinging frame members 58 which carry the filter and slat belts.

Figs. 14 and l5 show antifriction packing means for closing the upper end of the filter pressure chamber, comprising two rollers I 35, preferably of rubber or similar elastic composition, having axial shafts |36 which are journaled in blocks or plates 31, which in turn are adjustably secured to the exterior of the side plates 35 by screws |38 which extend through vertical slots |39 in the plates |38. One of the plates |31 is provided on each side of the frame and such plates are connected with vertical adjusting bars |40 having rack teeth 4| at the upper ends which mesh with pinions |42 on a shaft |43. A lever |44 having suitable releasable catch means by which it may be locked in adjusted positions is provided on the end of the shaft |43for turning such shaft to simultaneously raise or lower the plates |31. The side plates 35 are slotted or cut away as'at |45 to permit protuberances |48 on the plates |31 to move vertically therein and the bearings on the shafts |36 are preferably formed by blocks |46' which are disposed in slots. in the plates. |31 and have a limited amount of sidewise movement to compensate for wear of the rollers |35. The ends of the rollers |35 are preferably provided with metal disks |41 which bear against the plates |31 and with leather washers |48 whose edges are turned or cupped over the edges of the disks |41.

As the filter belts 39 move downwardly the rollers 35 which are in close contact therewith will roll with very little friction and at the same time will prevent the upward passage of the material with the filter pressure chamber. The elasticity of rollers |35 themselves will hold the ends of the same securely in contact with the plates |31 and prevent leakage of .material past such ends.

Fig. 16 shows vertically arranged packing strips |49 which are curved on their inner surfaces 'so that the overlapping edges of the filter belts 39 will be bent inwardly. The packing strips |49 relieve the excess pressure.

may be perforated to therethrough.

Fig. 17 shows packing 'strips |50 which have belt. receiving surfaces curved in an opposite direction from those shown in Fig. 16 so that the edges of the filter belts 39 will -be curved outwardly or away from each other. When packing strips of this form are used the edge of the belt that slidesI on such strips may be reinforced bya cable |5| which'is fastened in the edge of the belt.

The 'packing strips shown in both of Figs. 16 and 17 may be carried on the edges of the swinging frame members 58 similarly to the packing strips 85.

In Fig. 18, I have shown how an enclosed filter permit filtrate to pass .pressure chamber |52 may be formed from a slngle'filter belt 39 of suficient width to extend 'entirely around the filter pressure chamber and permit the edges to lap over each other, the filter belt in this form of construction being supported on four sides by slat belts |53 of a form similar to the slat belts hereinbefore described.l

Fig. 19y shows elastic yielding means for supporting the lower ends of the swinging -frame members so that excess pressure will move such frame members apart without breaking the same. which means comprises a lever arm |56 pivoted at the bottom end to a fixed support |51 and connected by a link |58 with the lower end of a swinging frame member 58. I'he upper end of the lever arm |56 is connected by a suitable piston rod with a piston |59 in a hydraulic. cylinder |60 which is connected by a relatively small pipe |6| with a combined hydraulic and pneumatic container |62 into which an elastic fluid as compressed air 'and a non-elastic fluid as water or oil may be introduced through a pipe |63. 'I'he container |62 is provided with a pressure gauge |64 and a liquid gauge |65 both of well known form.

In operation the swinging frame is normally held in the proper position by the pressure of the elastic fluid in the upper portion of the container |62. If the pressure on the swinging frame member becomes excessive the pressure exerted by the piston |59 on the liquid within the cylinder |60 will force a portion of such liquid through the container |62 against the the tube |6| into pressure of the elastic fluid in' the upper portion of such container thus permitting the lower end of fthe swinging frame to move outwardly and As soon as the pressure of the swinging frame member is reduced liquid will be forced -back into the cylinder |60 andthe swinging frame member will tend to move back to its original position. Pressure applied against the bottom of the swinging frame which will also regulate the size of the discharge opening and correspondingly the pressure in the pressure chamber is at all times controllable and adjustable by varying pressure of the air in chamber |62 by means of a pump (not shown) and the pipe |63.

In Fig. 20 is shown a slotted nozzle effect, adapted to blow air through the filter belt from the outside. thus tending to free the solid matter adhering to the inner surface. Fig. 20 shows a filter device in which the filter belts 39 are reinforoed and carried on belts |66 of woven wire or Wire mesh that runs on rollers |61. The wire l mesh belts |66 are held in contact with the'lower frame members |10, each of which has a plurality of filtrate receiving chambers as the chambers |1|, |12, and |13 provided therein at successive elevations. Theiwalls of the swinging frame members |10 against which the wire mesh belts |66 bear may be corrugated to reduce friction and perforated to permit the passage of filtrate therethrough. Horizontally arranged strips of packing material |14 are held in Contact with the rear sides of the wire mesh belts |66 by screws |15 at locations where it is desired to prevent the passage of liquor as between adjacent ltrate chambers. 'Ihe upper filtrate chambers |1| may be used for taking off the filtrate which is often clear and relatively free of impurities and which may thus be preserved separately from the remainder of the filtrate, which is taken off in the larger chambers |12. The lower smaller chambers |13 which `are opposite each other are connected separately with pipes |16 so that different pressures may be maintained in such two chambers to assist in the final separation, as for instance. air, water, lor steam may be introduced under pressure into one of said lower chambers |13 and forced through the mass of residue between the belts 39 into the other chamber |13 to extract filtrate material that might otherwise be discharged with the solid matter. In such case water may replace the valuable liquids to be recovered in the capillary spaces of the solids residue, 'thus a greater recovery is possible as even the capillary spaces have been emptied of valuable liquids.

In Figs. 21 and 22 I have shown strips of filter material |11.secured to slats |18 in such a manner that the edge of one strip will overlap the strip on the next adjacent slat and also overlap the side packing strip thus providing a shingling effect. thereby forming a continuous filter body through which material may be filtered in the same way that it is filtered through the filter belts 39. The slats |18 are perforated to permit the passage of filtrate therethrough and each of such slats pref erably has tongues |19 at intervals along one edge thereof that project into notches in the next adjacent slat and bridge the gap between the slats so that the strips |11 will not be forced between the slats.

To make sure that the edges of the filter strips |11 will always lie in snug contact with the next adjacent strip I provide, at the point where the belt passes around the sprocket wheels which carry the same, one or more rollers arranged so that they will bend the overlapping edges of the strips inwardly. The rollers |80 are also preferably provided with end flanges |8| which are arranged to bend the portions of the belt which overhang the ends of the slats inwardly so that they will make close contact with the packing strips on which they slide. This arrangement does away with 'two separate belts and the complications incident thereto.

In Fig. 23 I have shown a corrugated perforated wall |82 which may be used as a support for a wire mesh belt |66 which carries a filter belt 39 and have further shown a side packing strip |83 over which both the filter belt 39 and the wire mesh'belt |66 may lap and which is perforated to permit the discharge of filtrate into a passageway or filtrate chamber |84. This provides for the separation of the cloudy filtrate escaping around the side of the filter belt from the clear filtrate passing through the more central portion of the filter belt.

Fig. 24 shows a packing block |92 having a Cir conveyor or feed screw |93 connected therewith by which solid material may be introduced under pressure into the filter pressure chamber. The block |92 is similar to the blocks |30 shown in Fig. 2 and is introduced between the filter belts 39 at the top of the filter chamber in a similar manner. Manifestly, it is only necessary in connection with a press which embodies my invention to provide a packing block of one of the forms herein set forth to convert said press into a lter press, when there is means provided for the introduction under pressure of material to be separated such as obtains in the feed screw or in the pump arrangement.

Fig. 25 shows a tamping bar |94 that may be reciprocated as by cam I 95 and is arranged so that it will tamp material between the filter belts 39 to provide a uniform initial compacting of the material to be separated.

Fig. 26 shows a. flexible packing member |96 of substantially semicircular cross sectional shape arranged to have its two ends inserted between the filter belts 39 so as to close the opening at the upper end of the filter pressure chamber and to be expanded against the filter belts by its own elasticity and by pressure within the filter chamber.

Fig. 27 shows a packing block |30 having pieces of packing material I91 on the ends that extend around the corners thereof on the insides of the flexible friction plates I3I in such a manner as to form tight corner joints and provide for an extension of the elastic packing. The end pieces I91 are not shown on the packing blocks |30 in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 28 and 29 show swinging'frame members |98 that correspond in purpose and function to the swinging frame members 58 and that are connected at their lower ends with extension frame members |99 which are movable at both top and bottom ends. 'I'he bottom ends-of the swinging frame members |98 and the top ends of the extension frame members |99 are connected by pins 200 with two blocks 20| which are movable in guides 202 on the exterior of the side plates ofV the filter press and which areconnected by right and left hand screws 203 in such a manner that the turning of the screw will move the blocks 20| and the ,frame members |98 and |99 which are connected with such blocks either toward or away from each other. By the above described form of construction the opposite swinging frame members are tied together so that' the pressure therebetween will be sustained by the screws 203 andthe sides' of the frame will 4be relieved of strain. The mechanism just described is necessarily in duplicate on opposite sides of the frame.

The lower ends of the extension frame members |99 are connected by pins 204 with links 205 which are connected with the upper ends of lever arms 206 which are secured to transverse rockerlshafts 201. The lower ends of the lever arms 206 are connected by toggle links 208 with a piston rod 209 having a pistol 2 |0 which is reciprocable in a cylinder 2| I. The cylinder 2|I is provided with an inlet pipe 2I2 for non-elastic fluid and is connected with a chamber 2|3 wherein elastic fluid as air may beintroduced through a pipe 2H so that the cylinder 2I| and chamber 2|3 act in the manner hereinbefore described in connection with the similar cylinder |60 and chamber |62 of Fig. 1,9 to permit the lower ends of the extension frame members |99 to move apart under excessive pressure and to movevthe Same t0- of solids to form, so that the opening cannot under the elastic pressure returnY to normal, one belt can be retarded and so reduce the discharge so that automatic pressure release can return same to normal.

The 4rocker shafts 201 extend across the frame and connect the operating mechanism on both sides so that both sidesaf the extension members |99 will move simultaneously thereby avoiding twist and unnecessary strain. The toggle links 208 afford a powerful leverage for resisting force tending to move the lower ends ofthe extension frame members 201 apart and multiplying the forcethat is exerted by the piston rod 209 for moving such extension frame members together.

In Fig. 30 I have shown two swinging frame Y members 2I5 adjustably connected with each other by links 2I6, cross bar 2 I1 and thrust screw 2 I8 in such a manner that the outward thrust on one frame member will be balanced by the outward thrust on the other frame \member and the side frame members will be relieved of strain.

In operation the filter belts 39 are caused to move 'through the filter chamber from upper to lower end thereof and then to return to the upperA end of the filter press on the exterior of the filter pressure chamber. Material from which liquid is to be extracted is introduced at or near the upper end of the filter chamber and is drawn downwardly in the convergent chamber by the moving belts with the result that the liquid contents are forced through the filter belts while the solid matter is eventually discharged at the lower end. The slats 41 which support the filter belts are grooved and perforated in suchI a manner as to direct the filtered material intov the filtrate channels 8| from which it may be removed by the catch troughs 89, the said catch troughs constituting means for keeping the ltrate from different stages of the filtration process sep-w arate: The filtrate which passes through the edges of the filter belts and which leaks under such edges is liable to be cloudy and to contain impurities and hence especial precautions are taken to prevent such filtrate from the edge from gaining access to the main mtrat'c chamber al., i

The perforations 86 shown in Fig. 13 and the arrangement of the grooves 52 in the slats I1 as shown in Fig. 10, serve todirect the liquor from near the edges into the track'channels 80, from where it is returned to the pressure chamber for the filter belts 39 travel are' subjected to greater wear than other parts of the swinging frame members and are made separable therefrom so that they may be removed.

The provision of means'by which the two filter belts may be moved at different rates of speed is of advantage in the handling of certain classes of materials, for example, 'm the handling of impervious materials which must be worked over and over in order to bring the liquids interspersed therethrough to the outside surface so that said liquids may be free to, come in contact with the filter belt and be removed thereby. 'I'he provi- `sion of releasable supporting means for the lower ends of the swinging frame members 5l eliminates the danger of damage to the machine by excessive pressure.

The packing devices for closing the opening 4chamber closed top,

1,997,611 at the top of the filter chamber as shown in Figs.

will be readily understood by those skilled in the art when reference is had to the drawings.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions, and arrangement of the parts of my invention, Without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

1. A filter device embodying afilter tight filter bottom, and sides; a traveling filter belt forming one wall of said filter chamber; and a stationary plug means disposed within and closing substantially liquid tight one end of said chamber, said plug means having throughout its peripheral portion a packing means mounted thereon, which packing means is in contact with all the walls of said filter chamber. l I

2. A filter device embodying a filter tight filter chamber closed top, bottom, and sides; a traveling filter belt forming one wall of said filter chamber; and a stationary plug means disposed within and closing substantially liquid tight one end of said chamber, said plug means having throughout its peripheral portion a packing means mounted thereon, which packing means is in contact with all the walls of said filter chamber, and has a relatively short portion of said packing means extending throughout said peripheral portion into said chamber. which portion is held with substantially liquid tight force against the walls of the filter chamber by the pressure exerted through the material being filtered, whereby friction on the moving belt is minimized in producing said liquid tight chamber.`

3. A filter device embodying a wedge shaped filter tight filter chamber, closed top, bottom, and sides; a traveling filter belt forming one wall of said filter chamber; and a stationary plug means, adjustable longitudinally of the filter chamber, disposed wit-hinv and closing substantially liquid tight one end of said chamber, said plug means having throughout its peripheral portion a packing means mounted thereon, which packing meansI is in contact with all the walls of said filter chamber, and has a relatively short portion of said packing means extending throughout said peripheral portion into said.v chamber, which portion is held with substantially liquid tightforce against the walls of the filter chamber by the pressure exerted through the materialbeing filtered, whereby friction on the moving belt is minimized in producing said liquid tight chamber.

4. A filter device embodying a filter tight filter chamber; a traveling filter belt forming one wall of said filter chamber; a stationary plug means disposed within and tight one end of said chamber, said plug means having throughout its peripheral portion a packing means mounted thereon. which packing means is in contact with all the walls of said filter chamber, and an inlet means extending through said plug means for the introduction under pressure of the material to be filtered.

5. A filter device embodying a lter tight chamber closed' top, bottom and sides; a traveling filter belt forming one wall of said chamber; and a stationary plug means disposed within and substantially closing liquid tight one end of s'aid r'herum-rr, said plug means having, (al throughout wall of whereby said bearings will be of said filter substantially closing liquidl its peripheral portion a packing means mounted thereon, which packing means is in contact with all the walls of said filter chamber, (b) a flexible portion of said packing'means extending throughout said peripheralr portion into said chamber,A

which portion is held with substantially liquid tight force against the walls of the filter chamber by the pressure exerted through the material being filtered, and (c) an inlet means extending through said plug means for the introduction under pressure of the material to be filtered.

6. A filter device embodying means forming a filter chamber; a traveling filter belt forming a said filter chamber; and packing rollers contacting said filter belt and forming another wall of said filter chamber.

7. A filter device embodying means forming a lter chamber; two traveling filter belts spaced apart relative to each other and forming opposite walls of said filter chamber; packing rollers operatively positioned between said filter belts and forming a closure for one end of said filter chamber; and means adjustably supporting'said packing rollers.

8. A filter device embodying means forming a vertically disposed filter chamber; a filter belt forming a traveling wall withinsaid filter chamber; and a traveling slat belt supporting said filter belt, the slats of said slatfbelt having transverse grooves and having perforations extending from said grooves through said slats, whereby liquid may discharge through said slat belt.

9. A filter device embodying a traveling slat belt, the edges of the slats of said belt being respectively provided with rabbeted int-erfitting tongue-and groove mea-ns forming ship lap joints affording a substantially solid straight wall and capable of passing around curves, the'slats forming said slat belts having grooves on their inner surfaces and having drainage perforations extending from' said grooves outwardly. through said slats.

10. A filter device embodying means forming a filter chamber; an endless filter belt forming one wall of said filter chamber; shaft means carrying, said endless filter belt; movable bearings for said shaft means; toggle links retaining said bea-rings; and means yieldingly holding said toggle links in a slightly dis-a igned off-center position,

held xed and immovable for normal pressures against said filter belt but will be permitted to yield in response to excessive pressures against said filter belt.

11. A filter device embodying means forming a filter chamber; a filter belt forming one wall of said filter chamber and subject to the pressure Within said chamber; a shaft supporting one end belt; movable bearings forv said shaft; a pair of toggle links retaining each of said bearings against movement; `stop means normally maintaining each pair of toggle links in slightly dis-aligned normal position; means foradiusting the position of one of the pivots of said toggle links, whereby the dis-alignment of said links for the normal position will be varied; and yielding means resist' g movement of said toggle links away from the normal position.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a

fixed support; two spaced apart frame members inclined relatively to each other in an uprightly disposed position; pivot mountings carried by said xed support, engaging said frame membersv resilient means urging the freely movable lower end portions of said frame members relatively toward each other in opposition to the stresses developed during the separating operation, whereby the ncety of adjustment of the resilient means urging said members toward each other during the separating operation is unaiectedby the weight of the frame members. ,J

.13, In an apparatus of the class described, two inclined freely suspendedly pivotally mounted frame members spaced apart to form a pressure chamber therebetween, said frame members being free to move toward and away from each other below said pivots and lateral supports connected with the lower ends of said frame members compelling during the separating operation equal movement toward and away from eachother of the lower end portions of said frame members when forced apart by expressing stresses.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, a xed support: two spaced apart frame members inclined relatively to each other in an uprightly disposed position; a pivotal mounting carried by said xcd support engaging one of said frame members in its upper end portion, said pivotal mounting supporting the weight of said frame member and freely suspendedly mounting said member; and resilient means urging the free movable lower end portion of said pivotally mounted frame member toward the lower end of the other frame member during the separating operation, whereby the nicety of adjustment of the resilient means urging said pivotally mountedmember toward the other frame member during the separating operation 'is unaffected by the weight of the frame member.

l5. In a device of the character described a slat belt comprising perforated slats having mounted on the face thereof a filter member, each member-extending beyond the trailing edge of the slat on which it is mounted and over the advancing edge of the next following slat, whereby is provided a combined reinforcing slat and filter belt.`

16. In a device of the character described, embodying a filter chamber; two oppositely disposed frame members extending the length of said chamber, one of which membersY is pivotally mounted as respects one end portion, and the -other end portion being resiliently mounted; a belt for each of said frame members movably mounted thereon; a rotatable shaft mounted on the resiliently mounted end portion ofsaid pivotally mounted frame member; a driving means mounted on said shaft; and power driven transmitting means connected to said driving means.

1'?. In a device of the character described embodying a filter chamber; two substantially vertically and oppositely disposed frame members extending the length of said chamber, one of which members is pendently mounted; a belt for each of said frame members movably mounted thereon; a rotatableshaft mounted on the lower end portion of each of said frame members; a driving means mounted on said shaft; and power transmitting means connected to said driving means.

18. In a device of the character described embodying a lter chamber; two substantially vertically and oppositely disposed frame members extending the length of said chamber, one of which members is pendently mounted; a belt for each of said frame members movably mounted thereon; a rotatable shaft mounted on the lowerend portion of each of said frame members; a driving means mounted on said shaft; power transmitting means connected to said driving means; and means resiliently supporting the lower end portion of said pendently mounted frame member in spaced relation to the lower end portion of the oppositely disposed frame member, whereby varying pressures during the expressing operation are provided, which result in the efficient expression of the liquids from the solids.

19. In a device of the character described embodying a filter chamber; two substantially vertically and oppositely disposed frame members extending the length of said chamber, one of which members is pendently mounted; a belt for each of said frame members movably mounted4 thereon; arotatable shaft mounted on the lower end portion of each of said frame members; a driving gear mounted on each of said shafts; and a timing gear disposed beneath and intermeshing with each of said driving gearssaid timing gears also intermeshing inter se, whereby relative movement between the lower end portions of the frame members is provided andthe movement of the belts is controlled.

20. In a device of the character described embodying a filter chamber; two substantially vertically and oppositely disposed frame members extending the length of said chamber, one of which members is pendently mounted; a belt for each of said frame members movably mounted thereon; a rotatable shaft mounted on the lower end portion of eachof said frame members; a timing gear mounting shaft disposed beneath one of said driving gears; an adjusting plate pivotally mounted on said shaft; means to selectively lock said plate in a predetermined position; an 4adjustably mounted bearing carried by lsaid plate; a timing gear mounted on said shaft and intermeshing with the driving gear disposed thereabove;and a second timing gear mounted on said adjustably mounted bearing and intermeshing with the driving gear disposed thereabove and with said other timing gear.

21. In a device of the character described, having two swinging belt supporting members; a togglemechanism connecting the ends of said members, comprising a pivotally mounted link for eachv of said frame members; links pivotally connecting one end of each of said pivotally mounted links to one end of said belt supporting members; a pair of links pivotally connected and having the other end ofeach link connected to the other end of said first mentioned links; and resilient means connected to the pivotal connection of said pair of links, whereby equal movement of the end portions of said belt supporting members, either to or from each other, is provided.

ROBERT M. THOIWPSON.

Ill) 

